Mega-meth bust in Lyons

Friday

May 10, 2013 at 6:34 PMMay 13, 2013 at 3:47 PM

Subjects allegedly are part of countywide meth ring

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

Seven people, allegedly members of a countywide meth operation, were arrested on meth-related charges early Friday morning around Tabor Street during an ongoing investigation by officers from the Central Michigan Enforcement Team, Ionia County Sheriff's Office and Michigan State Police Hometown Security Team. An eighth person was arrested on unrelated charges.

CMET, the ICSO and MSP have been conducting an extensive investigation of methamphetamine production in Lyons, which intensified early Thursday evening. It led investigators to two residences in the village where search warrants were executed. Methamphetamine labs, components, and other paraphernalia were located, resulting in the arrests that came after midnight, said Ionia County Sheriff Dale Miller.

Arrested and charged with controlled substance – operating and maintaining a laboratory involving methamphetamine and controlled substance – possession of methamphetamine were Joshua D. Silvernail, 31, of Ionia; and Joshua S. Cowling, 36, of Fenwick. Cowling also had outstanding Friend of the Court warrants.

Lawrence David Randolph, 41, of Lyons was arrested and charged with a conditional bond release violation.

"This was an ongoing investigation, and we had been working on it for some time," Miller said. "We had been getting a lot of complaints and spending a lot of time over there (in Lyons). With meth, it floats around the county, different places at different times."

The investigation, headed up by CMET, is part of an attempt to diminish meth production in Ionia County. Dozens of people across the county allegedly are members of the meth ring, said Miller.

"There are a lot of players and quite a cook operation. We're trying to put an end to it, because of the hazards of the chemicals to the public," he said. "They throw it out and dump it on the ground, and then people stumble across these chemicals. It's not a healthy environment."

The investigation of methamphetamine production in this case and others in Ionia County will continue with resources from local and state agencies, Miller said. He asks that any citizens who are aware of or suspect methamphetamine production call the Ionia County Sheriff's Office at 616-527-5737 or the Central Michigan Enforcement Team at 989-352-6738.

Then- ICSO Det. Sgt. Charlie Noll (now the undersheriff) discusses meth and what the community can do about it.